The Marcus model applied to recombination in sensitized solar cells

14102013

I am very happy to announce the publication of a summary of the theory of recombination in dye solar cells, in cooperation with Nobel laureate Prof. Ruddy Marcus. Here we expose the models from the basic ideas of electron transfer launched by Marcus in 1956, to the application of charge transfer in semiconductor/electrolyte with disorder, that forms the basics for an understanding of the measurements of lifetime and recombination resistance in dye solar cells. We also review the application of the theory in sound experiments.

I also wish to highlight the contributions of many friends and coworkers that have provided insights and key measurements, like Pedro Salvador, Arie Zaban, Francisco Fabregat-Santiago, Mehdi Ansari-Rad, Tom Hamann, and many others.

Furthermore I think these ideas will be extremely useful to attack new classes of solar cells that have become high fashion and interest.

We review the concepts and methods of modeling of the dye-sensitized solar cell, starting from fundamental electron transfer theory, and using phenomenological transport-conservation equations. The models revised here are aimed at describing the components of the current–voltage curve of the solar cell, based on small perturbation experimental methods, and to such an end, a range of phenomena occurring in the nanoparticulate electron transport materials, and at interfaces, are covered. Disorder plays a major role in the definition of kinetic parameters, and we introduce single particle as well as collective function definitions of diffusion coefficient and electron lifetime. Based on these fundamental considerations, applied tools of analysis of impedance spectroscopy are described, and we outline in detail the theory of recombination via surface states that is successful to describe the measured recombination resistance and lifetime.

In 2016 we have almost completed the collection that started with Nanostructured Energy Devices vol. 1. The next two volumes will be published in the CRC Press (Taylor&Francis) along 2017. The full collection will have the following Titles: Juan Bisquert. Nanostructured Energy Devices − Equilibrium Concepts and Kinetics (2014) Juan Bisquert. Nanostructur […]